You may have noticed when boarding your plane that active military service members and their families receive priority boarding, a small way to thank these soldiers. Spirit Airlines has just announced that it is amplifying this privilege significantly by also allowing the spouses and children of these service members to have two free standard checked bags, one free standard carry-on bag, and the existing one free personal item when they are traveling together, effective immediately.
Spirit’s executive vice president and CCO Matt Klein said that this benefit was intended to make travel for military families more accessible and provide more chances for them to create memories together.
Spirit has a history of supporting U.S. service members. It provides free flights to families flying to visit veterans and soldiers who were wounded in the line of duty through the charities Luke’s Wings (Delta Airlines also supports this charity) and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Last year, Spirit devoted half a plane to transporting more than 80 World War II veterans to Washington DC, to honor their service with a day of events that celebrated their service. These included meeting members of Congress and Veterans Affairs officials, as well as taking trip to Arlington National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the World War II memorial. For many, this provided their first chance to see the memorials that were built in their honor. They then returned home to a hero’s welcome at the airport with throngs of people dressed in red, white, and blue. This was through a partnership with Honor Flight South Florida, with whom Spirit frequently flies veterans who served from World War II through Vietnam to the Washington D.C. area for visits to the memorials, as well as flying veterans who are terminally ill.
This “one-day mission” includes round-trip airfare, deluxe bus transportation throughout Washington with police escorts, meals, commemorative shirts, and more. With advanced notice, disabled veterans can be accommodated with honor chairs and oxygen.
For those who live near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, you can be part of the cheering crowd on June 1—arrive in your red, white, and blue anytime after 7pm for the 8pm arrival of these veterans returning home. More flights will take place in September and October.
Spirit also donates significant funds to the Spirit Charitable Foundation to support active-duty military and veterans, and employs hundreds of military reservists and veterans. Its Veterans Resource Group and Allies supports its employees who have served or are serving, and their families and allies.